Lombard

You head towards the collection of dark tents.
To do so you pass under a giant old tree with dying leaves you don’t remember being in the field the circus is set up in.
You walk under it, and you have to push your way through branches and brambles.
When you finally fight through to the other side, you stop suddenly.
The sky.
It’s gonna from day to a pitch-black night.
You look up at stars constellations with purple and green hues littering the dark, and you don’t recognize any of them. Looking back from where you came, the tree has full growth with leaves that seem to contain soft blue lights in their veins.
When you look forward again, a Guardian with a Skydancer curled upon her back is approaching you ever so slowly. Her movements are careful and practiced. With each step, you can hear groans, snapping, and cracking.
As they near, you realize it is her skin which makes that noise, it's separated by large grooves and crevices in spider web patterns all across her body.
Indeed both of their bodies.
While the cuts look fresh, it's not possible for any creature to actually have all of these injuries… and still be alive.
You can’t tell which one speaks or if both of them do,
“Welcome, child.”

You find yourself glancing at the Skydancer and you can’t seem to make eye contact. His face seems to blur into the night. Everytime you think he may have moved, the darkness around him swallows and contracts.
You look away.
The guardian pads nearer.
“You have come...”
A bone-rattling inhale.
“To us.”
The voice is deep and genderless coming more from the chest than any mouth. She walks up to you before gently pulling to your right and begins to circle around you ever so slowly.
“We are so pleased to... welcome you.”
“As we have collected… many.”
“And soon… many more”
Each sentence is punctuated by another too deep inhale and then a following almost wet exhale.
“Elixers”
“Fortune”
“Spells”
“And Mattteerials.”
The word cuts off with a throaty click.
“We are so pleased to have a... use”
“So pleased to… have you.”
She has walked completely behind you and you’ve lost vision of her.
When you turn
she’s gone.
You’re left with whispers of wind through the glowing branches of the tree.
In front of you are two tents with worn away signs.
(Do you go to li ers or Di ners?)